“Nothing’s wrong at all. I just—” She glanced at Liddy, who offered an encouraging smile.
Caleb’s eyes flickered knowingly. “You and Gray are together. Shocker.” His voice was accusatory, though it held less rancor than she’d expected.
“Caleb’s right. Spending all this time together, I’ve been reminded of who he is and all the things I love about him. I know he let me down before, and that was hard. But we’ve both grown up and learned a lot. I’m giving him another chance—and I hope you will too.” Her gaze shifted between Caleb and her dad.
Dad set his glass back on the end table, obviously stalling for time.
Caleb stared back at her wearing an enigmatic expression.
Liddy grabbed Shelby’s hand. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. I don’t know Gray very well, but what I do know I like.”
“It’s not really that simple,” Caleb said. “He’s obviously not welcome in this town.”
“And you’d never leave Grandville.” Dad’s statement held a hint of a question. A trickle of fear.
“I can’t see myself ever leaving Gram’s bookshop. And speaking of that—Gray did give me back ownership of the store without so much as a fight. And he dropped his whole life to come and help me with the store. I don’t know if I could’ve turned things around without him. And he did it for nothing. Hopefully you can see his kindness in that. And as for Grandville, it really isn’t the whole town who’s against Gray. Mostly just the Remingtons and their friends. And their blaming Gray for what his dad did is wholly unjustified.” Even Caleb and Dad had to give her that.
Her brother weighed in. “He got a reputation of his own though—the fighting, the test scandal.”
Shelby gritted her teeth. “That was years ago—and he didn’t deserve any of that!”
“I think we all realize he was something of a scapegoat, honey,” Dad said. “We never really believed he cheated on that exam. And though all this may have happened a long time ago, the Remingtons have very long memories.”
“And a lot of friends,” Caleb said. “They’re not the sort of people you want as enemies.”
“I don’t care what they think. Doesn’t the truth matter at all? Once people give Gray a chance, they’ll come to see he’s not what they’ve made him out to be.” She turned to her dad. “You saw what kind of person he was, Dad. You came to respect him; I know you did.”
“I don’t deny that, honey. I don’t buy into every rumor that fliesaround town. I go by a person’s character, and he showed me he had some—until he left you the way he did. You’ve never been a parent, so maybe you can’t understand how hard it was to see him break your heart like that.”
Realization hit Shelby—she wasn’t the only one who’d been triggered by Gray’s abandonment. Dad had been abandoned by his wife. It must’ve been traumatic to see the same thing happen to his daughter.
And maybe Caleb’s leaving for New York had had the same effect on him. She flagged the thought for later.
“Watching me go through that had to be difficult for you, Dad. Gray knows leaving the way he did was a mistake.” Her eyes softened on her father as she weighed her words carefully. “But he didn’t run off to Hollywood to become a star, Dad. He went into the military because the situation here was untenable. And he did try reaching out to me several times. I was the one who shut him down. I was the one who ended things.”
Dad’s eyes teared up. “I guess that’s a fair point.”
She’d just tromped across sacred ground. But it had to be said. Her mother’s abandonment was still affecting their father, still affecting all of them. “Gray and I have talked it through. I’ve forgiven him and we’re going forward from here.”
“And what will that look like exactly?” Caleb said. “He must hate it here. How could he not?”
Liddy leaned forward. “I think what Shelby’s saying is, this is happening, and we all need to get on board. She deserves our support.”
Shelby shot her a grateful look, then turned back to her dad and brother. “I know you feel protective of me, but I’m an adult and you’ll just have to trust that I can handle this.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” Caleb grumbled.
Liddy scowled at him.
Dad’s brows relaxed as a small smile curved his lips. “I won’t say this doesn’t worry me. But if you’re willing to give him another chance, I guess I’ll have to do the same.”
Gray had won him over once before. She had no doubt he could do the same again. “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it.” She drilled her brother with a look. “And what about you? Are you going to behave when I bring him around? Because I am going to bring him around.”
Caleb glanced at his wife. Shelby didn’t even have to glance Liddy’s way to know she was pinning her husband with a fierce look. “Fine. I’ll give him a chance.”
A while later after Shelby said her good-byes, Dad followed her to the door.
“Are you upset about my announcement, Dad?”
